The eggs were packed into several large baskets, filled to the brim. Even with the combined strength of the five of them, carrying them over seemed impossible.
What’s more, the four young masters were most reluctant about having to hawk their wares. Though they were outgoing and playful, they were still the epitome of aristocratic young men—how could they possibly mingle in the marketplace and shout for customers?
Su Xi had even gone so far as to bring them thirty miles away. With so many servants around, gossip was inevitable. What if word of this got out? Worse yet, what if someone they knew happened to spot them in the market?
"I’m not going!" Shen Yibai was the first to rebel, turning on his heel to head for the carriage. "You could beat me to death, and I still wouldn’t go sell eggs!"
"Same here! I’m getting on that carriage!" Wei Xinglu was ready to abandon the mission too.
He Zheng looked to their leader.
Zong Jincheng turned to his mother, Xu Wan, who was smiling faintly, showing no intention of intervening. Meanwhile, Su Xi was already leisurely perched on the carriage, munching on a flatbread.
"Mother, do we really have to go?" the little troublemaker grumbled, clearly unwilling.
Xu Wan approached him and said softly, "I think it’s a great opportunity for growth. You’ll get to experience firsthand what ordinary people do every day. The world you’ve seen so far has been too privileged—sitting high in the halls, you’ve never truly witnessed the hardships of common folk."
"The hardships of common folk…" Zong Jincheng murmured the words, lost in thought.
Zong Wenxiu chimed in, "Jincheng, do you remember the story I told you? About the boy in the slums who begged for a bowl of coarse rice porridge to save his mother?"
Memories surged like floodgates opening in his mind.
Of course Zong Jincheng remembered.
He had been eight when his brother told him that story. They had even tried to find the boy afterward, but to no avail.
Zong Wenxiu continued quietly, "We vowed to become good officials so tragedies like that wouldn’t happen again. But the people in the slums are just a small fraction. The vendors in this marketplace, who rise at dawn to make a living, represent the countless ordinary people. Don’t you want to experience a day in their lives?"
With his mother and brother persuading him, Zong Jincheng felt swayed. He had studied the classics for so long, and his policy essays were top-notch—he knew better than anyone how hollow theoretical knowledge could be.
Clenching his fists, he made up his mind. "I’ll go!"
He Zheng immediately followed suit. "If Big Brother’s going, so am I!"
The little troublemaker spun around and dashed toward the carriage. "Come on, let’s drag those two down!"
"Right away!" He Zheng hurried after him.
Xu Wan burst into laughter as she and Zong Wenxiu watched the four young masters brawl again—two refusing to budge, the other two determined to pull them down, all tangled up in the carriage.
Shen Yibai wailed, "I won’t go! I won’t! Jincheng, we’re brothers—we should stand united! Don’t betray me!"
The little troublemaker grinned as he yanked at him. "That’s exactly why we should share this adventure! Come on, let’s go make some money together!"
Wei Xinglu yelped, "No way! I don’t need the money! Let go of me—I can’t afford the embarrassment!"
He Zheng pitched in, "As Su Xi said, we’re thirty miles away—no one knows us here! Come on, all five of us should stick together. We’re just missing you two!"
"I refuse! This is humiliating!"
"How is it humiliating? One person is embarrassing—five is fearless!"
"……"
Before long, Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu were dragged out, scowling, to help carry the baskets.
As Su Xi had instructed, the servants weren’t allowed to assist. They watched nervously as the five young masters painstakingly moved the baskets, the wobbly loads looking ready to topple and shatter at any moment.
Miraculously, the five of them managed to haul the baskets over without breaking a single egg.
Shunzi whispered to Buyan, "People really do have hidden potential. The young masters are amazing."
Buyan, for once, nodded in agreement.
At the marketplace, the baskets were in place, and the five little merchants were ready.
Su Xi announced the rules: "The eggs cost one copper coin for two at the farm. The selling price is one coin per egg. You must not sell below this price, nor use your status as young masters to push sales."
Otherwise, those eager to curry favor would buy up all the eggs in no time, defeating the purpose of this deep immersion.
The young masters scoffed in unison. "Pfft, we’d prefer if no one recognized us."
Zong Jincheng shooed Su Xi away. "Alright, we’re starting our business now. Sir, step aside—you’re blocking our customers."
Su Xi, caught off guard, huffed and walked off, still chewing his flatbread. Before leaving, he tossed back a warning: "We’ve brought provisions and spare clothes. We’re not returning to the capital until every last egg is sold."
The boys: "!!!"
This eccentric old man was ruthless.
If they couldn’t sell all thousand eggs, they wouldn’t be going home tonight!
The urgency hit them hard. Zong Jincheng quickly sent He Zheng to scout the market.
Soon, He Zheng returned with a report. "Big Brother, I checked—there are two other egg sellers in the market. Their prices are the same as ours, but they seem to have regular customers. Business is pretty good for them."
Zong Jincheng frowned. "No price advantage, no loyal customers… We’ll have to rely on ourselves."
Shen Yibai shrugged. "No harm in trying. Xinglu, warm up your voice—we’re going all in!"
"Got it!"
Before long, the shouts of five young boys rang through the market: "Fresh eggs for sale! Delicious eggs!"
The marketplace, usually filled with adults, now buzzed with curiosity at the sight of these youngsters.
"Look, kids selling eggs! How novel!"
"They’re dressed well—doesn’t seem like they’re hard up for money. Why are they selling so many eggs?"
"Who cares? They’re so lively! Must be helping their families. Perfect timing—I just ran out of eggs. I’ll buy some."
"Little ones, how much for the eggs?"
Zong Wenxiu smiled warmly. "One copper coin each. We just brought them fresh from the farm. How many would you like, ma’am?"
The woman, charmed by his politeness, had planned to buy twenty but changed her mind. "Give me fifty, dear. You’ve got so many eggs—it’ll take ages to sell them all."
He Zheng jumped in eagerly. "Coming right up! Thank you, ma’am. Hand me your basket—we’ll pack them for you."
"I’ll take twenty!"
"Ten for me!"
Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu had initially been afraid of losing face, but when they saw how friendly the egg buyers were—not only refraining from mocking them but even offering help—their attitudes underwent a dramatic shift. They quickly joined He Zheng in packing the eggs.
...
Not many people came to buy eggs. Most of the adults were simply kind-hearted, purchasing a few out of courtesy to give the youngsters some encouragement. As a result, after half an hour, only a little over a hundred eggs had been sold.
As the sun grew hotter, fewer customers came by, and the boys' sweat poured even more heavily.
The little troublemaker, wiping the sweat from his neck, glanced at the remaining mountain of eggs and said, "This isn’t working. We’re selling them way too slowly. I refuse to stay here for days on end."
